Bengals Draft Depot

It's been said many times that this is the deepest draft maybe in the history of the modern NFL draft. Teams that have extra picks in the first 4 rounds are setting themselves up to be in a position to build a good young core of players for the next 6 years or so. Look at the Patriots, they played it smart last year knowing this draft was gonna be loaded and now they have 3 second round picks. Those 2nd round picks are gold this year because you get first round talent at 2nd round prices. The Browns,Eagles, and now Broncos all have quite a few picks as well.

The Bengals do have 6 picks in the first 4 rounds, but 2 of those picks come at the end of the 3rd and end of the 4th round. If you're running the Bengals do you try to find a way to get more picks in the 2nd or 3rd round? I'd say definitely, but you have to give up something to get something and what ammo is expendable for the Bengals.

For one they can package their 5th,6th,or 7th to move up into earlier rounds. Possibly trading to a team like Chicago who doesn't have very many picks and has quite a few holes. There is probably zero chance of 9 rookies making this team so why not use some of those picks to put yourself in a position to get better players. They could package those picks to maybe move their 4th or 3rd round picks up a round. Like I said 2nd round picks are gold in this draft so a 3rd packaged with a 5th and 7th could get them another pick in the 2nd round.

Another way to grab some 2nd or 3rd round players is to trade players currently on the roster. Who is expendable that will be an attractive option to other teams. Brandon Johnson, I'd hate to get rid of him but they could easily get an early to middle 2nd round pick for him and that would get the Bengals someone like Nate Allen possibly, so you have to look at it as would you trade Brandon Johnson for Nate Allen? The answer should be yes. It hurts to give up depth, but to trade a backup for a potential starter and centerfielder type of Safety would help this team more than hurt it.

Another guy who I'd trade is Andre Caldwell, but I doubt they'd get much for him as Santonio Holmes went for a 5th rounder, but he's facing suspension and the Steelers just wanted him off their roster. I think if you packaged Caldwell with a 6th round pick they could add a 3rd rounder. I'd like to see them get Jordan Shipley with what would be one of three third round picks. Shipley is a better fit for a slot WR and a bigger playmaker than Caldwell who I'm not sold on at all.

There are a few other players who could net the Bengals some 3rd round picks atleast and if packaged together could land them a 2nd rounder or so. I'd say Ndukwe,Livings,Cosby,Roland,Fanene, and Rucker are all expendable and they play positions of high value and would definitely draw some interest, especially the D lineman and Ndukwe.

If the Bengals can acquire some extra 2nd,3rd,and 4th round picks it could set a team that landed a bunch of good young players last year up with a young core of players that could carry this team to a Super Bowl. The Bengals had the best draft in the league in my opinion last year, if they add all those young players with 7 or 8 possible early round picks they could be looking at having 9 or 10 starters just from two drafts which would be remarkable. The best part would be all those players are young and the Bengals already have a good mix of veterans to teach the young guys the ways of the NFL.